Director Named For Arkansas Health Insurance Exchange

The former director of Utah's health insurance exchange has been named director of the organization that's exploring whether to create a state-run insurance exchange in Arkansas.

Cheryl Smith will begin work next month for the Arkansas Health Insurance Marketplace.

Arkansas has partnered with the federal government to run its exchange, but the state is exploring whether to establish its own state-run insurance marketplace.

Smith will be paid $165,000 annually, with money for her salary and those of other Health Insurance Marketplace Board employees to come from a $3.6 million grant from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

From 2008 to 2010, Smith was director of policy and strategy for the Utah exchange, which facilitates coverage offered by small businesses.